#James Barclay of London

[jonfarreporter]

A Persian Carpet is A Sustainable Carpet

In our increasingly ubiquitous disposable-item high tech culture, a Persian rug seems like an out-of-place antique. Yet for the “sustainability-conscious” a Persian carpet is not just a treasure it’s an investment.

“You are buying more than just a rug, said Ataullah Khoja, you are buying a work of art alive with the stories of the region and the people who make them.”

Khoja was in town during the past weekend of Sept 15 at the Sonoma Valley Women’s Club on First Street, East selling dozens of some of the most opulent Persian rugs available.

Owner of Access Rugs - Hand-knotted Rugs, Inc. of Berkeley, Khoja explained. “family owned and operated business. For the past 22 years, we have been collecting a wide variety of hand-made rugs, from Central Asia.

“All of our products are hand-made and authentic. And, each has it’s own cultural value,” said Khoja.

The main entrance as well as the reception hall of SVWC was filled with some of the most exquisitely made rugs.

“It is our desire to help promote and preserve our cultural heritage, said Khoja as he ignored a call on his cell phone to answer a few questions as The Sonoma Index-Tribune stopped by on Monday to take a look. Even the porch outside the Women’s Club was covered with Persian rugs; passersby couldn’t miss it.

Operating as a direct rug importer and rug supplier, Khoja and his family-owned company has had the privilege of working with many businesses across the country. In addition to providing his customers/clients with exceptional hand made rugs, Khoja also provides rug services.

And that includes rug cleaning and rug repair. “It has been an important part of our operation,” said Khoja.

Emphasizing the “investment” aspect to a Persian rug as art, according to James Barclay of London, who also deals with Persian rugs, it’s value is in the craftsmanship and authenticity. As he and his team notes the appeal of Persian rugs the world over, Barclay said.

“As rug specialists, our business here in London is built upon traditional methods of hand cleaning and hand repairing fine and antique rugs, carpets and tapestries as well as carefully sourced products that are akin to the original materials used when your rug was made.”

“This not only retains the authenticity (even with imperfections) of your rug, said Barclay but also assist the rug to keep it’s value, look and feel from when it was originally made.”

Pointing out the longevity of Persian Rugs, the BBC reported in 2017 that the ‘Pazyryk carpet’ discovered in Siberia in the 1920s is the earliest example of one of the oldest Persian carpets, dating as far back as the 5th Century BC.

With Sonoma being able to produce some of the most delicious wines, a Persian carpet in a tasting room would certainly be a nice addition with considerable cache and panache for the status-conscious.

Yet as Khoja said enthusiastically of his business and company. “We will continue to be that source of knowledge and education from that part of the world, with it’s rich history and culture.”

Buying a Persian carpet from Khoja is making a connection to skilled artists, craftsman and artisans that make works of art that will last beyond one’s lifetime. If that isn’t sustainability at its best, what else is?

“Today, Monday is our last day here in Sonoma until next year” Khoja said. “But I invite anyone who wants to know about Persian rugs to visit me and my shop in Berkeley,” he said.

To learn more about Persian rugs or to find out when Khoja will return to Sonoma, visit his company’s website.